Aston Martin LMP1 makes its debut at Paul Ricard Test Track

Aston Martin celebrates the 50th year Anniversary of its Le Mans victory. To get to the top spot again, Aston Martin comes with the new LMP1 class Le Mans car that was introduced this week at the Paul Ricard Test Track. Today, for the first time, a couple of LMP1 cars went to test at the French Paul Ricard Test Track.

There were other twenty-six Le Mans cars present with around 3,500 enthusiasts gathered to witness the event since it was opened to the public for the first time in a long decade. The Le Mans Series will begin on April 5 2009.

Team Aston Martin was pleased with the performance of the car on its first day of testing. A setback was encountered, however, when the Czech driver met an accident thereby prematurely cutting the test.

The team however is confident that they can quickly recover from this setback and be ready with two race-ready cars in time for the Barcelona. According to the team the new drivers are adapting to the car and are getting along well with the team while the older members of the team are also doing great.

LMP1 cars are equipped with carbon fiber monocoque chassis with steel spaceframe support for both the powerplant and gearbox. Power is provided by a v12 engine based on the DB9 with 6.0 liter displacement and can generate around 650hp and 550lb-ft of torque.

Power is channeled to the wheels through a 6-speed sequential gearbox fitted with a triple-plate carbon clutch and comes with 15 inch wide rear tires. The ECU and data system of the LMP1, just like the F1 cars, can instantaneously transmit car data to the engineers back at the pits for analysis.

The difference is that the car cannot receive information while mobile. The Aston Martin LMP1 will come with the orange and blue Golf Oil livery with numbers 007 and 009 at the Le Mans in Barcelona, Spain on April 5. They will also participate in the upcoming 24-Hours of Le Mans beginning June 13, 2009.